Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity caused by Cistanche deserticola in rodents

In the present study, the rhizomes of Cistanche deserticola (Orobanchaceae, abbreviated as CD) were extracted with 50% ethanol and isolated orderly by ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CD extract and three layers were evaluated in several animal models. CD extracts effectively inhibited writhing response induced by 1% acetic acid and biphasic licking responses caused by 1% formalin, and also reduced the edema induced by 1% carrageenan but not zymosan. Furthermore, the butanolic and aqueous layers of CD extract not only reduced the pain induced by acetic acid and formalin, but also decreased the edema that induced by carrageenan. Effects of the butanolic layer of CD extract are better than that of the aqueous layer. In addition, the effect of the butanolic layer of CD extract was not abolished by naloxone. These results revealed that CD has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and the butanolic and aqueous layers are mainly active constituents. Furthermore, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the butanolic layer of CD extract were not related to,opioid receptors and immune system. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.